Queensland Seniors Month is an opportunity to celebrate the contribution older Queenslanders make to their families, neighbourhoods and communities.

Across BlueCare’s 30 retirement villages, more than 3,000 residents bring a lifetime of skills, knowledge and experience – something BlueCare Azure Blue Redcliffe resident Beris Pritchard OAM has been sharing with others for decades. 

A lifetime of service

Beris began her career as a home economics teacher after training in Warwick, going on to teach across Queensland, including a Commonwealth Government appointment to Nauru Island.

She later spent 26 years at Clontarf Beach State High School, finishing her teaching career as Deputy Principal.

It was during this time that Beris was invited to join Quota International of Redcliffe, beginning an association that has now spanned 53 years.

Through Quota and her volunteering Beris supported initiatives benefiting women and children and people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Her leadership eventually took her well beyond Redcliffe, serving on the international board and working with clubs across the South Pacific and South-East Asia for around 20 years and in 1991 she was awarded an Order of Australia (OAM) in the Queen’s Birthday honours.

Her proudest achievement was being elected international president – the first Queenslander and only the third in Australia to hold the position.

“I’ve had a lot of leadership opportunities and enjoyed a wonderful life in roles supporting people in the community.” Beris said.

That commitment to helping others has also extended throughout her local community. Beris has volunteered with community programs, chaired the Redcliffe Toy Library and through Redcliffe Quota Club the establishment of Hummingbird House in Chermside, Queensland’s children’s hospice.

Sharing experience and knowledge with a new generation

Beris moved to Azure Blue Redcliffe in 2015 and was elected chair of the residents’ committee in 2017, continuing a lifetime of community involvement and leadership.

She also participates in the village’s intergenerational activities with local school students – an experience she says benefits young and retirement village residents alike.

“It’s lovely to exchange ideas,” Beris said. “The children are so interested to know what life was like back in our day.”

“Students are particularly fascinated by stories of school and everyday life before the technology they know today.”

“A lot of them can’t comprehend what life was like for generations older than themselves or their parents,” she said.

For Beris, it is also an opportunity to help young people become comfortable communicating with older generations.

“It’s healthy for young people to gain experience and understanding by communicating with different generations and for people from all walks of life,” she said.

Her story is a reminder this Seniors Month that the experience and knowledge gained over a lifetime continues to have enormous value in the community – whether through volunteering, community leadership or simply taking the time to share a story with the next generation.